This Cubs player was picked as a top breakout candidate in 2023

Even if the Cubs improve on their 2022 record - which seems likely given the offseason roster additions - a lot is going to have to go right for the club to punch its postseason ticket.

A bounceback performance from Cody Bellinger would go a long way toward giving the offense a shot in the arm, but it'll take more than that for the Cubs to seriously threaten the Cardinals' hold on the division or even sneak in via a Wild Card spot. Pairing a Bellinger bounceback with a Seiya Suzuki breakout season, though, could be enough to drastically transform this lineup.

Cubs: Seiya Suzuki has the makings of a big-time breakout candidate

That could be in in store, at least if you believe MLB.com's preseason top 5 breakout hitter candidates rankings that had this to say about Suzuki.

"Suzuki’s rookie season was, by definition, fine. A 2.0 WAR and a 116 wRC+ are serviceable numbers. But given the quality of his swing decisions and ability to barrel the ball consistently, it feels like he is just scratching the surface."

- MLB.com on Seiya Suzuki

As the piece notes, Suzuki's 2022 rookie campaign can be pretty cleanly split into three segments: a hot start, a period of injury and adjustments and a solid conclusion. The end result was a solid, if not spectacular, 111 games that clearly left him hungry for more heading into the winter, where he put on a notable amount of muscle before reporting to Arizona recently.

FanGraphs has Suzuki projected for a monster year: 26 home runs, 28 doubles, an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 131 wRC+. It's not hard to see why he's a prime breakout candidate: he showcased an eye-catching chase rate (90th percentile per Baseball Savant) and an above-average barrel rate, as well. Throw in high marks for his defensive work in right field and you have the makings of a star-in-the-making.

A middle-of-the-order trio of Ian Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki has the makings of the stuff of dreams. Nothing can be taken for granted, of course, but this roster - headlined by Dansby Swanson - is dripping with potential and could very well be one to watch if you're looking for a team poised to outperform projections in 2023.